The first films made by the Lumi=E8re brothers were=20documentaries, and that tradition has remained=20strong ever since in the nation that invented=20cinema thanks to pioneers such as Jean Rouch,=20Alain Resnais, Jacques Cousteau, Marcel Ophuls,=20Claude Lanzmann, Agn=E8s Varda, and Nicolas=20Philibert. Building on the work of Marc Ferro,=20Pierre Sorlin, and Fran=E7ois Gar=E7on in the 1970s=20and 80s, over the past decade film has become=20central to the practice of interdisciplinary=20historiography in France. As both a primary=20source and as a retrospective interpretation of=20the national past, documentary cinema and its=20various permutations, including newsreels and=20docudramas, can offer fresh insight into=20virtually every aspect of French history.

Against this background, we invite proposals for=20individual papers and/or complete panels (3-4=20presenters plus a moderator) on any facet of the=20French documentary tradition from the late=20nineteenth century through the present.

Details on the Film and History League, as well=20as conference registration and logistics, can be=20found on the web at=20<http://www.filmandhistory.org/>www.filmandhistory.org.=20Hosted by the Dolce Conference Center adjacent to=20the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, the conference=20will include a plenary session with renowned=20documentary filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris=20Hegedus, as well as numerous screening sessions=20of documentary films from all eras and countries.=20Participation promises to be strongly=20international and we are looking forward to a large turnout.

Please submit proposals of no more than 250 words (via e-mail if possible)= to:

Brett BowlesAssistant Professor of French StudiesDepartment of Languages, Literatures, and CulturesState University of New YorkAlbany, NY 12222<mailto:bbowles_at_albany.edu>bbowles_at_albany.edu

Submission deadline is July 28, 2006 (may be=20extended, but early submission is appreciated).